Apparatus for forcing fluid from wells.



No. 886,280. PATENTED APR. 28, 1908.

' J: w. WAITZ.

APPARATUS FOR PORGING FLUID FROM WELLS.

' APPLICATION FILED 00117, 1903.

4 SHEETSSHEET 1 lllll I L muHH nm i u.

' "PATENTED APR. 28, 1908, J. W. WAITZ.

APPARATUS FOR PURCINGTLUID FROM WELLS.

APPLICATION FILE-D OG'T.17, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHHET Z.

. PATENTED APR; '28, 1908.

J. W. WAITZ.

NG FLUID PROM WELLS. APPLmAT'IOH FILED 0013.17. 1 90s.

APPARATUS FOR PORGI 4 S HEETSSHEBT' 3.

No. 886,280. I PATENTED APR. 28, 1908.

a. W. WAITZ. V APPARATUS FOR FORGING FLUID PROM WELLS.

APPLICATION FILED OGT.17. 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4..

vvi Memes UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

JOHN W."WAITZ, OF OIL GITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR FGBCING FLUID FROM WELLS.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, JOHN W. WAITZ, acitizen of the United States, residin at Oil City, in the county of Venango and tate of Pennsylvania, have invented certainv ,new and useful Improvements in Ap aratus for Forcing lu-id from Wells; and I do hereby declare the followin to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and'use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for forcing fluid from Wells. It is designed especially for oil wells but may of course be used inany kind of well or for the pur ose of forcing fluid from one height to anot er. j

This invention covers a specific improve.-

ment over my former applications, Ser al No. 121,223, filed August 27, 1902, and Serial No. 152,978, filed April 16, 1903.

These applications covered ap aratus for flowing and regulating the flow f om oil or Artesian wells and for partially saving and utilizing the motor fluid, usually compressed air.

I I have now devised an apparatus whereby practically all of the surplus' motor fluid re maining in the supply p1 e and .pocket in'a Well that has been flowed can besaved and utilized or compounded from one well to another.

' The special feature of my present invention therefore is the saving on utilizing of practically all of the motor "fluid or compressed air after it has done its work of raising the'fluid in a well to the surface and then compounding the same to flow other wells in succession. Y

' My invention also com rises means whereby a signal is given by a uid pressure mechanism when a well has been temporarily discharged of fluid and means for regulating the flow of motor fiui'd to each wellfrom one central station.

My invention is especially designed for use with a number of wells operated from a single central station, at which station an air. compressor is used which com resses the air to a high pressure, from four undre d to one thousand pounds, for exam 1e, and then turnin into the" various well; the comease air which is an expansible motor ui With these objects in view my invention consists in the construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and claimed.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 17, 1903. Si'ial No. 177,488.

, c'am into the Well. through the casing head 9 of the well into the pocket, its lower end being adjacentto the Patented April 28, 1908.

In the accompanying drawings:Figure 1 is .a vertical section of an oil well with parts of my .apparatustherein. Fig. 2 is an enlar ed vertical section of a pocket or Tier. Fig. 3 is 2. pers ective view of an compressor as adapter for use with the other parts of myapparatus. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the air comressor and system of valves and piping. ig.. 5 is a cross section of the valve mechanism for equalizing the back ressure flow. Fig. 6 is a cross section of t e automatic spring valve used for the purpose of admitting atmospheric air into the back pressure cylinder. ig. 7 is a cross section of a valve used to prevent the escape of fluid pressure fromone well to another, and Fig. 8 is a cross section of the fluid pressure signal mechanism.

.In carrying out my invention I provide for each well a chamber or pocket consisting of the shell'l provided with removable heads 2 and 3. This pocket is lowered through the casing 4 of a well to the oil bearing rock and is provided with an inlet 5 at its lower end, provided with a check valve 6 of any suitable construction, which valve permits the easy inflow of oil but prevents any escape thereof downward through the bottom of the pocket An oil discharge pipe 7 passes lower end of the. pocket and being provided with an inlet 10 and a check valve 1]. of suitable construction. The casing 4 may have around it a secondary casing 12 forming a shoulder on which the casing head \Q'Ina'y rest to keep water or foreign substances from getting into thev well if this is desired. The casing head is provided with screw threaded openings 13 and 14 which may be either left open or intowhich pipes may be screwed for the purpose of conducting away the gas from the Well should the well rove to be gas-producing as well as oil-pro ucing. An air supply pipe 8', smaller in diameter than the discharge pipe, extends from the central power station and passes down through the casing head 9 and through the top of the pocket. The supply pipe 8 may just pass through the top of the head 2 as shown in F ig.-2, or it may extend further down into the pocket if desired and as described in my previous applications.

When sufficient oil has accumulated in the pocket of a well, fluid under pressure is forced down the supply pipe 8 which closes the valve 6 and then forces the oil 'u through the dischar e pipe 7, into any suita le receptacle. In eep wells air under hi h pressure 3 is used, anywhere froni four hun red to one thousand. ounds'. After such a well. has been comp etely flowed and the air supply cut off, there still remains a large amount of compressed air undervhigh pressure in the supply pipe and pocket. B turning this com pressed air inanother weh, about one-half of the fluid pressure can be utilized, so that when a second Well is to be flowed'the surplus air from the first well already flowed having been turned into said second Well, the air in the supply pipe in said second well will be under about half the pressure required for flowing said second Well, in other words,

anywhere from two hundred to five hundred pounds. By my present invention which comprises the combination of a back pressure cylinder and a free air or auxiliary cylinder and a system of pipes and valves I have de 'vised a means whereby practically the whole of said surplus fluid under pressure remaining in" the supply pipe and pocket of. the Well after it has been flowed can be saved and utilized. v

In Fig. 3 is-shown an air compressor as adapted for use in my apparatus which con-. sists of two cylinders, a back pressure cylinder and an auxiliary ,or-jre air cylinder The belt pulley 17, cranks 18; pitman 19,v cross heads 20 and bed plate 21 are all of the usual construction. The details of the air compressor suchas thewater jackets, etc, have not been shown at, all and have. been -merely' indicated, as they are of the usual p o the back pressure cylinder 15 is delivered the surplus motor fluid remaining in the supply pipe and pocket of'a well after it has been flowed-through the pi e 22'. This sur-' plus fluid under either employed y directly returnin it to 'ressure, owever, may be the back pressure cylinder 15*inWhic .it is put under a still higher pressure, or it may be delivered directly into the supply pipe, of

another well, in which case the air or-motor fluid in said second-well will have about half the pressure required to flow-said well before therelis necessarily someescape or waste of.

add tional motor fluid 'is turned intosaid second well from the main supply pipe. As

air when a Well is flowed into an open-race tacle, since a part ofthe an whlch forces t e I -oil along will escape just as the l'astlpart of the charge of oil is delivered into the receptacle, some means for providing an ad ition'al supply of air must beused, or 1n other words, air cannot beusedover and overs ain passing from the ciyhnder'15 to a well and t on ack into said cy inder jwithout replenishing the supply of a r. I.therefore use the free air or auxiliary cylinder 16, shown 3..

' su 1y i e air lio all Hie Wells.

auxiliary cylinder 16 passes through thepipe, v

This cylinder draws in' air from the atmosphere, only and supplies air under pressure to about equalize the amount compressed by theback pressure cylinder, said back pressure cylinder being. supplied from the wells that have been fiowe When the free air or auxiliary cylinder 16 drives into the sup r ply pi c more air than is required to compensate 'I" r the Waste, this simply adds to the amount'of the compressedair and "does no harm. p

InFig. 3&1 have shown a single air compressor, .but it is of course obvious that a provided with an air inlet pipe 23 to admit 'com ound or series air compressor could be use if desired, The auxiliary cylinder 16 is atmospheric air, as shownin Fi L 4." The Y cylinder 15 is forced through the pipe 24 and into an after cooler of any suitab e construe: tion (not shown)" or directly into the main The air as it leaves the 26 either into an after cooler or directly into the supply pipe-.25 su pliesthe well.

It sometimes happens-tat the air from compressed. air as it leaves the bee pressure 25 which supplies compressed wells that have been flowed is not returned V l rapidly enough to the back pressure 15 through the pipe 22to keep up an a equate pivlinder I air supply in sald cylinder'15, 'as'for example a when t e air from one well has-been turned directly intoga second well without returning it to theback pressure cylinder 1 5. I have therefore provided means whereby there maybe drawn into the back pressure cylinder under such, conditions atmospheric "airthrough the open pipe 27, which is rovided with a valve shown 011'- anenlarge scale in Fig. 6. This valve consists of a casing made in two parts 28 and 29 screwed together, the

latter part being provided with a cross bar 30, through the central perforated boss 31 of s lpondingly. shaped socliet the cas' 28. hroughthe stemBZ passesa pin 34, an be- 'whichpasses a valve stem--32 provided with a rounded valve 33. which fits in the corretween this pin and the crosspieee is a spring 35'which is juststron enoughto normally 'h'oldthe valve 33 out 0 contact with its seat.

If none of the back pressure air is sup lied through the pipe'22, the? valve 33cw' be keptfoff its seat and atmosphericair will be permitted to enter the cylinder 15 freely 'on the other hand when; air. under pressure 'comes. back throughthe ipe22 into the cylinder 15, it closes they ve, ,33; and prevents I The back pressure-pipe122 is c'onnected pipe varies greatly, from fifty to five hundred ounds when ,the backpressure air is return mg from the wells,- and in. some instances I'running 'dopvnevmitojero, ,Lhiiye devised .a

"the loss of the airfunderpressure which is coming inthrough the pipe 22. p

125 with allthe wells, and as the pressurein this enlarged scale in Fig. 5.

is a valve which is operated by the lever 37.

means whereby the back pressue air is de -livered through the pipe 22 tothe cylinder 15 under, a uniform pressure, which means also This lever in turn is operated by the centrally pivoted arm .38 carried on arm or standard 39 attached to the head 40 of theregulating means. The lever 37 is provided with a number of eriorations 41 whereby the movement of the controlling valve may be varied. Screwed into the head'40 is a valve casing 42, and in this valvecasing is a piston 43 provided with a piston rod 44 which is pivotally attached to the arm 38. The piston rod 44 passes through an ordinary stuffing boxin the head 40. A sprin 45sur rounds said piston rod and norma ly holds.

said piston down against the bottomof the casing 42, thereby closing the main back pressure pipe. In the casing 42 is screwed a small escape pipe 46, provided with a pet cock 4?. This is for the purpose of allowing any air which mav leak around the piston 43 to escape into the atmosphere.

In some cases I have thought it advisable to keep on hand a supply of motor fluid under pressure to supply the back pressure cylinder with fluid pressure to fiow the first well, the air compressor having been shut down, or for other unusual emergencies, and in such cases I employ an ordinary storage tank (not shown) which is. connected or placed between the back pressurecylinders and the sup ly pipe, suitable valves being ofcourse provni ed at the supply and delivery openings of such storage tank.

As it is necessary to know at the central station when a well or a number of wells have been flowed, I have devised a signal mechanism operated by fluid pressure. A series of these mechanisms are shown in Fig. 4 and one of them is shown in cross section on an enlarged scale in Fig. 8. This signal mechanism consists of a valve casing 48 to which is screwed a head 49 rovided with an ordinary stuffing box. To t e head 49 is fastened an upright arm 50 rovided with a graduated scale. Within tl ie casing 48 is 'a piston 51 carrying a piston rod.52 which is provided with a pointer 53. A, spring 54 surrounds the piston rod 52 and normallyholds the pieton 51 down against the'bottorn of the casing 48, which ca ing is provided with a mares.

c'a e tube 55,\,provided with a pet cook 56 to al ow for theescape of any air that may leak around the piston 51'. .One of'these signal prevent this if desired; for examvalve might be usedin the T-- ,nected by the pipes 22, 22 an tively, with the back pressure pipe 22, andvalves59, 59 59* are provided which are ordrop over the. scale.

mechanisms is mounted brancl supply pipes that lea s to each individual well'as shown in Fig. 4, in which 48, 48 and 48 represent the c linder casings of the signal mechanisms, an in which 5?, 57

and 57* represent the branch supplypipes for each otthe individual wells which are connected to the main sup lypipe 25, these branch supply pipes each aving a controlling valve therein, numbered 58, 58 and 58'. Each one of these branch supply ipes is cond 22, respecdinarily closed during the operation of floweach of the ing the well andopened after this operation is completed. Pipes 60, 60 and 60 ar'e used which connect the sup ly pipe of one well with the supply pipe 0 the succeeding Well, and valves 61, 61' and 61 are arrangedto open or close the connections between the supply pipes 57, 57 and 57 with the pipes 60, 60 and 60*, respectively; 1' v When it is desired to flow the first well after the air-compressor is put in operation, the valves 59 and 61 are closed and the valve 58 opened. The airis then deli ve'red through the ipe 57 into .the pocket of the first well,

disc arging the oil that has accumulated in said pocket. This lifts the pointer 53'of' the corresponding signal. mechanism moving it along the scale 50 up to the maximum pressure under which'the particular apparatus is.

designed to work, a ressure of five hundred pounds being usual y required. After the oil has beendriven out of the pocket of this well and has 'been elevated to the surface of the well the resistance at once becomes less, the air pressure in the pocketand' the pipe 57 becomes less, and the pointer 53 begins to closed and the. valve- 59 opened, thereby cutting off the suppl of air. from the well that has been flowed an allowing the air still re maining in the pocket to escape back through The valve 58 is then the pipes 22 and '22 into the back pressure cylinder where it is used over again and its ressure 'ut1l1zed..

I Instead, however, of alowing the air to escape directly into. the back pressure pipe 22, in some instances itis de sirable to turn it into a second well, in which case after the valve 58'is closedthe valves 61 and 61 are opened, letting the surplus air from the pocket and supply pipe of the well which has been fiovtbd escape through the pipes 60 and 60 into the supply pi e 5750f another well, the valves 59, 58 an 59 being closed, after which'the valve 61 is closed and the valve 58 opened. Therefore, it will be seen that after a well'has been flowed the surplus air remaining in the supply pipeand pocket of said well may be either returned to on to aid in flowing the air compressor or sent another well or wells. In some instances, however, I prefer to compound these two methods and after the first well has been flowed and the valve 58 has been closed, I openthe valves 59 and 61 and 61 letting the surplus air escape in two directions, back into the cylinder .15 and forward into the next Well or wells. 7

' I wish it to be understood that all valves or stops in connection with the turning on or oil enabled to utilize practically all of the air which has been compressed and use it over and over again except the small fraction i which escapes with the oil into the delivery tank. In cases of deep wells, this saving is of considerable commercial importance.

It will be seen at once by those familiar with the art when the fiud pressure is turned into the branchsupply pipes of two or more wells at once, and any one of said group of Wells begins to flow, which thereb the pressure to lessen by reason of t e oil es-. caping, that the fluid pressure in the supply pipes eading to the adjacent wells won at once direct itself into the su ply pipes of the well or wells that .had been w lolly or partially flowed, in other words to the oint of least resistance, and to prevent this provide each branch supply pipe with a' valve mechanism shown in Fig. 4] and shown in cross section on an enlarged-scale in Fig. 7.

To the pipe 57 'i s" attached the upper half 62 of a easing into which'is screwed a lower half.63, provided with a rounded seat. A

cross iece.64 is provided with a perforated centra ;.port'ion'65 through which works the in 66 of 'a valve 67 which is ada ted to fall into its seat by its ownwei ht. hen fluid pressure is supplied throng the lower art of the pipe .57, it lifts said valve 67 an allows the motor fluid to pass on to the well.

- Any backward movement of the motor fluid,

. supply pipe 25 is out 0 however, through the pi e 57 into the main by the valve 67. Simdar'valves, are used in connection with the pi es 57" and 57 It s ould be noted that the surplus air remainin in the sup 1y pipe and pocket aft r a well has been fidwed may be either returned tov the back pressure cylinder di- ..rectly, or it ma be turned into one or more wells, ormay, e turned into one or more wells and the back pressure cylinder simultaneously, and by these means I am enabled to utilize practically all of the air under pressure without waste, the very slight waste which occurs when each well is flowed being compensated for by the air drawn into the free air cylinder.

causes While I have thus described my inventionv Having thus described my invention what I'claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United tates is 1. In an a paratus for forcing oil from wells, the C0111 ination of a single pocket arranged at or near the bottom of a well, an air supply pipe and an oil discharge pipe leading in'to said pocket, and an air compress ing device comprising a plurality of cylinders, oneof which is connected with the open air and theother or back pressure cylinder is connected with the air sup ly pipe, whereby the air remaining in a. obliet after the oil has been discharged there rom may be utilized by being delivered into said back pressure cylinder, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for forcing oil from wells, the combination of'a single pocket arranged at or near the bottom of a well, anair supply pipe and an oil discharge pipe leading into said pocket, a main air pipe connected to said air supply pipe, an air comppessing device comprisin two cylinders, Qua i Which is connectec with the outer air and the pipe connected to said first named air sup-' ply pi es, an air compressor composed of two cy inders, both of said cylinders being connected with the outer air, and one-of said 0 linders being connected with the air supp y pi e that runs to eacli'well, and a yieldva ve mechanism in said second named cy inder allowin atmospheric air to enter when there is noack pressure in the air su p y pipe leading into each well, substantial y as described.

4. In an ap aratus for forcing oil from wells, the cnrn ination of a single ocket arranged at or'near the bottom of see well, an air supply pipe and an oil discharge pipe leading into eac pocket amain air supp y pipe connected with the air supply pipes of eviee comeach -well, an air compressing posed of airee air cylinder and a back ressure cylinder, connections between sai an pipes that run to each well and said back pressure cylinder, and means including a spring actuated piston located in said connections for causing the surplus from 15 cylinders,

25 leading into eac aaaaao wells that have been flowed to enter the back pressure cylinder at a uniform pressure,

substantially as described. 4

5. In an apparatus forforcing oil from 5 wells, the combination of a single pocket located at or near the bottom of each well, an air supply pipe and an oil discharge pipe leading into each ocket, a main air supply pipe connected with all of said-individual air supply pipes an air com ressingdevice' linders deliver ing into said main supply pipe, and cornice-- comprising a plurality of cy tions between the individu 1 air supply pipes for each well and half of t e air compressor whereby the surplus fluid pressure remaining after one or more wells have been flowed may be utilized, andla fluid pressure inechanismfor iving a signal when one or more Wells have een discharged'of fluid, substantially as described. 1

6. In an apparatus for forcing oil from wells, the combination of a single ocket arranged at or near the bottom of eac Well, an air supplyjpilpe; and an oil discharge pipe of said pockets, a main air supply pipe, connected with each of said individua air supply pipes, an air compressing device .pomprising two cylinders-adapted to deliver compressed air into said main air sup ply pi e,,one of'said cylinders being also connecte to said individualair supply pipes,

and connections whereby two or more wells.

can beoperated-to flow at the same time, said connections being provided withvalves which automatically prevent'the motor fluid atthe high pressure re uired to flow a .well

from escaping backward pi e of awell or wells that have been flowed su stantially as described. i

11 an apparatus for forcing oil from wells, the combination of an air com ressor including a back pressure cylinder, an a free air or auxiliary cylinder workin automatic- .ally in conjunction with eachotfier, a pocket located at the bottom of each well, air supply pipes connected with said compressor and with said pockets respectively, a discharge ipe for each well, and meanswhereby said ack ressure cylinder will draw in the sur- -plus fl uid pressure as well as free air when required and -whereby said auxiliary cylinder willcompensate for the waste of compressed air 1n the com connection wit the flowing of oil Wills, substantially as'described.

8. In an apparatus for forcing oil from.

wells, the combination of an air compressor comprising a free air or auxihary cylinder, and 1n @OIIJUDCUOII with a highpressure 6O cylinder and one or more back-pressure cyl- 'mders, a main supply pi ein to which all of said cylinders dehver t e motor fluid, a pocket arranged at the bottom ofeach Well, abranch supply pipe leadingfrom saidmain pressed air, a branch su said branch. supply "with said backpressure cylin .supp

into the air supply ounding of fluid pressure insupply ipe to the top of each pocket respective y, a delivery pipe leading from a point near the bottom of each of said pockets,

wells, the combination of an air compressor comprising a free air cylinder and-a back pressure cylinder, a main supply pipe into which bothof said cylinders deliver comly pi e connecting said main supply pi e wlt eac of said wells respectively, a poo et in eachof said wells, with which pockets said branch su ply pipes are connected respectively, a fiui. pressure signal mechanism connected with each of ipes, back pressure pipes connectedto eac of said branch supply pi es, a main back pressure-pipe connectmg al of said first named-backdpressure pipes equalizing theressure of the motor fluid delivered throng said last named back pressure pipe, pipes connectingl s'aid branch supply pipes With the branc supply pipes of other wells, and suitable valves in sand pipes,

substantially as described.

10. In an apparatus for forcing oil from wells, the combination of an air compressor comprising two or more cylinders, a main y pipe into which said cylinders deliver, branch supply pipes, one for each well, back pressure plpes connecting each of said branch means for supply pipes with one of the cylinders of said air compressor, other pipes connecting said branch pipes to ether, and valves'in' said last three name pi es whereby the'surplus pressure in a Well tli at has just been flowed may be utilizedeither by having the surplus air conveyed back to'one of the cylinders of the air com ressor; or biy delivering it to one or more Wells not yet oWed,.or both, substantially as described.

11. In an a aratus for forcing oil from wells, the com ination'of an air compressor including two cylinders, a pipe for supplying air to one of-said cylinders, andan e ualizing device connected to said pipe, inc udin a valve, an arm carried by said valve, a bar pivotally attached to said arm, a piston -'con nected to said bar, connections whereby *fluid pressure will operate said piston, and a spring acting against said piston to oppose said fluid scribed.

12. In an a paratusfor forcing wells, the com ination of a ocket or near the bottom ofawel supply and discharge pressure, substantially as de oil; from T coated at pipes leading into said pocket and or equalizing the pressure of themotor fluid the supplyplpe and pocket of two or more wells, said means 'includingduplex high and low back ressure and free air auxiliary cylinders. or ing in conjunc tion, the first coinpoun n the Surplus fluid res sure from a well or we s that havebeen flowed, to flow adjacent wells, and the second to compensate for the necessary escape or waste of com ressed motor fluid, substantially as descri ed. p

13. In an ap aratus for forcing fluid from wells, the com ination of two l1fts; means arrangedto carry the actuated fluid through the first of said lifts by a following action of the actuating fluid through the 11ft in contact with the actuated fluid; connections leading from said first lift to thesourc'e of motor fluid supply, a motor fluid connection between said lifts, means for admitting a fluid to be actuated by said lifts, and valves controlling the movement of the motor fluid and so located that asu ply connection to the first of said lifts may be opened durin -a closure of the connection between said liflts, and whereby connection between saidlifts may be opened during a closure of the ,con-.

nection to the source of motor fluid supply. 14. In an ap aratus for forcing fluid from dwells, the com ination of two lifts; means arranged to carry the actuated fluid through said lifts by a follow action of the actuating fluid through the li ts in contact with-the actuated fluid, connections leading from one of said lifts-to a source of motor'fluid su I ply, and motor fluidconnectio n between said 1 its; means for admittin a fluid to be actuated'by said lifts, and va ves for controlling the movement of the motor fluid so arrange that a supply connection to one of said hfts 'may be opened during a closure of the cone nection between said lifts, and wherebya connection between saidlifts may be opened during a closure of the connection to the sourcc of motor fluid su ply. p

. 15. In an ap aratus fbr forcing fluid from wells, the comfl arranged to carry the actuated fluid through said lifts by a following action of the actuating fluid through the lifts in contact with the actuated fluid; connections leading from one of said lifts to ,a source of motor fluid sup 1y;

means for admitting a fluid to be actuated by said lifts, and valves governing the movement of the motor fluid so arran ed that a supply connection to one of said li ts maybe 0 ened while the connection between said li ts is closed, and. whereby connection between said lifts maybe opened while the connection to the source of motor fluid supply is closed, and whereb a connection between said second lift an the source of mo--.

tor fluid supply may be opened and the connection between the liftszclosed. 16. In an ap iaratus for forciri fluid from wells, the com ination of two l1fts;'means .by 'said lifts, and valves for controllin ination of two liftsg'mean's' arranged to carry the actuated fluid through said lifts by a following action of the actuating fluid through the lifts in contact with the actuated fluid; connections leading from one of said lifts to a source of motor fluid supply, a motor fluid connection between said lifts; means for admitting a fluid to be actuated movement of motor fluid so arranged t at a connection with the source of motor fluid supply may be opened while the connection between said lifts is closed, and whereby the connection between said lifts may be opened while the connection to the source of-motor fluid supply is'closed,-and whereby a connec tion between the second of said lifts and the source of motor fluid supply may be 0 fened,

i tsis while the connection etween the closed, and whereby the connection from the first lift to an exhaust may be 0 ened, 'while the connection of the second ift and the source of supply is opened.

17. In combination with two Artesian wells or the like, an apparatus comprising a two lifts, one in each we 1; means arran to carry an actuated fluid throughsaid lifts by a followin action of an actuating fluid through the li ts in contact with the actuated fluid; a connection with a motor fluid sup 1y andthebottom of the lift in one of said so arranged that the connection to the motor fluid su ply may be opened while the connection etween the lifts is closed, and whereby. the. connection between the lifts may be opened while the connection to the sfi'urce of motor fluid su ply is closed.

18. In com ination with two Artesian wells or the like, an ap aratus comprisin two hfts, one in each we IIIQBDS arrange we ls, a connection-between said lifts, and valves for-controlling the'movement of motor fluid 7 the to.carry an actuated fluid through said lifts at the connection to 'thesource of motor fluid sugiply may bea motor fluid connection between said llfts;

tween said lifts maybe opened while the con 7 nectionto the source of motor supply fluid is station.

closed,said valves being located in a central 19. In combinationwithtwoidrtesianwells or the like,'an apparatuscomprising two lifts,

one in, each we means arra e to carry liquids through said lifts by a f0 owing action of an actuating fluid through the lifts in conliquids; connections leadingtact with sai from the bottoms of said lifts to a. source of motor fluid su ply; moto r fluidconnections between said lifts, and valves for controlling the movement of the motor fluid so arranged wit connection between said lifts is closed.

that the connection between the motor fluid supply and the first of said li fts may be 0 ened while the connection'between said; h ts is closed, whereby the connection be tween said lifts. may be opened while the con nection between the first of said liftsand the:

motor fluid supply is closed, and whereby-a connection betweensaid secondlift and the m'otor'fiuid supply may be opened while the the actuated liquid, a ipe connecting the air ipesrunning' to the ottomof-each well the source 'of compressed air, branch pipes connecting said air su plypipe with the pipes leading into each well successively, re-

-. turn pipes lea'ding back from each well back totheair compressor, and a valve located in each of said .pipes, whereby the entire-air supply may be turned into one pocket, a portion of saidair supply/may lie-turned from said pocket into a succeeding pocket to assist in flowing a second well,"andwhereby the ,airiorfl actuati the liqui turned from. said in presence ofjtwo witnesses. I

surplus-air still under pressure may be re-- turned to theair compressing means;

21'. The combination with a plurality of Artesian Wells, of'lifts, one located in each of said wells and comprising apocket, a supply and a delivery 'pipe'leading into saidpoc et, meansjfor furmshinga suplp'ly of compressed oc kets' bye to owin action of theactuating uid through said li ts in contact with the I actuated liquid, a pipe connecting the air pipes running to the bottom of each well with the source o connecting the air supply pipes leading into each well successively, return pipes'leading from each well back to the air compressor,

- a valve located in each of said pipes, whereby collecting in said compressed air, branch pipes I the entire air supply may be turned into .one

pocket, a portion of said air supply'may be pocket to assist'in pocket into a succeeding owing a secondwell, and

whereby them-surplus: air still under pressure,

may be reljurnedxto: the air compressing means, and in-each of 's'aid Wells. t ony wh devices for showing the pressure g M m-noHN. W. WAirz. 'WijtnessesL Q a signature, 

